Yoga Classes

Sunflower Retreats Holidays yoga classes are suitable for beginners as well as more practiced yogis.

Best yoga classes ever. I learned so much!

Claire, 2006

We practice in a stunning location on a hilltop, blending-in perfectly with the setting. Our yoga style is non-competitive with a down-to-earth approach, created by Sunflower Retreats founders and followed by all our guest yoga instructors. Our way of choosing our yoga teachers is unique: we expect them to be humble, genuine, non-judgmental and spiritual in their approach to their teaching, as all true yogis should be.

Classes are held in English, on Friday through Tuesday from 08.00 to 09.30, before breakfast, with some yoga classes throughout the week outdoors in spectacular surroundings when the weather is suitable. Morning classes sometimes start at 08.30 early or late in the season.

Optional Extra Yoga Classes

For those who would like the opportunity to practice more yoga, optional one-hour afternoon yoga and meditation classes are available Friday, Monday and Tuesday and cost €10.

We also offer a two-hour workshop each Saturday, in yoga, meditation and other related subjects costing €20 per person. We'll cover subjects such as Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Chakra meditation & balancing.

Our yoga deck

Outdoor yoga classes take place on our platform which is located in an oasis of green inside the village walls. It's a beautiful and serene environment, with dappled sunlight and the sound of birdsong all around.

The yoga room was lovely and so was the platform outside in the garden. Truly a magic environment for yoga. I didn’t want to leave!

A. Jordan, Ireland, 2012

Our yoga studios

When we choose to practise yoga indoors, we use our own professionally designed and restored 40 square-metre studio, which has a wooden floor, a fresh water spring and an ancient cave as a bathroom.

For larger groups, we also have a 50 square-metre professional yoga studio which has panoramic views, coconut carpeting and central heating for the winter months.

Our yoga classes are attended only by our guests; we don't include visitors.

What Our Yoga Holidays Cover

The classes taught cover the physical teachings of Hatha yoga with emphasis on the spiritual aspects of the yoga tradition. We emphasise that yoga is not a sport and that it's important to not be competitive with yourself or others. Each yoga class is a holistic practice - a time to connect to your body, mind and inner self.(Read more about Hatha yoga »)

Your yoga class includes:

■ Asanas (physical movements)

■ Pranayama (breathing practices)

■ Meditation (stilling and calming of the mind and inner self)

■ Relaxation (complete mind, body relaxation)

Individual Yoga Lessons

This has been the most magical and fulfilling holiday I have ever given myself. I have learnt the true essence of yoga.

Terri, USA, 2003

Individual tuition is also available, with one-to-one yoga lessons in Asana, Pranayama, Meditation and Relaxation. These private classes, with the yoga teacher of the week, are great for people who would like to deepen their yoga practice or work on a yoga routine for their individual requirements.

Sunflower Retreats' Yoga Teaching Team

All of our teachers are required to have undertaken no less than two years training so that we do not rely on 'fast-track' yoga certification.

Heidi Pasqual, from the UK, joins us our teaching team for the first time to teach from July 23rd to August 5th.

Heidi's twenties were dedicated to exploring our exquisite world, discovering the natural wonders of Africa, Latin America and Asia and the cultural colour of Europe. She married her Peruvian husband in the Andes of Peru, and returned home after a decade of exploring. Her thirties have been a very different kind of journey; an inner journey; "Yoga has offered me a world beyond this world, the bliss of an ocean’s sunset on a cold, cloudy day and love’s forever open arms. I fell head of heels in love with Yoga and immersed myself in its bliss. My lifestyle, my job, my health and my insights gently evolved, as my yoga path deepened."

Since 2009 she Heidi has immersed herself in the study of yoga and Svadhyaya, completing B.W.Y and Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training and Vinyasa Flow diplomas and working at Ibiza Heaven with other inspirational yoga teachers.

Heidi teaches an energetic Vinyasa Flow style of yoga, blissfully infused with the grace of asana, flowing through breath towards a soft, meditative mind. Her classes are designed for beginner and intermediate levels, with a careful balance of asana, pranayama (breath awareness) and meditation, to cultivate and enhance the yoga potential in each individual. Her students develop strength, flexibility and poise, creating a sense of lightness within and without and gently returning to an inner space with peace, clarity and calm.

We welcome Julie Bolitho-Lee back to teach from August 13th thru' September 9th.

Julie began practicing yoga in 2004 when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of nineteen and she realised a disconnect existed between her mind, body and spirit. While originally from northern Michigan in the United States, she has lived in Oxfordshire, England since 2007.

Julie's yoga practice flourished after discovering Kripalu yoga; a form of yoga that utilises meditation, breath-work (pranayama), yoga postures (asanas) and relaxation to help develop an integrated mind, body and spirit. Kripalu yoga emphasises following the flow of Prana, or 'life-force energy', compassionate self-acceptance, observing the activity of the mind without judgment, and taking what is learned into daily life. It can range from gentle to vigorous, and can be practiced by, as well as benefit, anyone.

Furthermore, Julie is a trained aerial yoga teacher and Thai yoga massage practitioner. She greatly enjoys sharing the practice of Thai massage, both in offering it to clients and teaching them how to offer it to others. She has further interests in Acroyoga and Partner Yoga.

Julie was trained by Devarshi Steven Hartman, Megha Nancy Buttenheim, and Jovinna Chan at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the United States. She has a BA from Alma College and a Master's degree in Literature and Medicine from King's College London. She is also a 2005 Truman Scholar and an internationally published poet.

Julie has a passion for teaching and aims to bring love and offer grace to all of her students.

“Bring a little yoga into everything you do and life just becomes a little simpler.”

Lisa Quish, from Ireland, returns to teach with us from September 10th to 23rd.

Lisa's Mum taught yoga in the seventies - there was always a sticky mat on the kitchen floor, in front of the fireplace or in the back seat of the car - so it is not surprising that the legacy was passed on, like a family recipe. It was not until her early twenties that she started practicing regularly and not until she went on a retreat to Italy for the first time, in 2004, that she was inspired to follow the teaching path.

In 2007 Lisa completed a 200-hour teacher training course with Dave Curtis who qualified with Chuck Miller and Matty Ezraty of Yoga Works. She continued her studies with Yoga Therapy Ireland and has completed a 500-hour programme in Dublin under the guidance of wonderful teachers like Jodie Rufty, James Higgins and Ciara Cronin.

Lisa was drawn to yoga, as a unique system of study and practice that integrates seamlessly into all areas of life; recognising and accommodating many different needs, life stages, cultures and personalities. I trust in the power of Yoga as the supreme teacher, inviting us through a 5,000-year-old practice of asana, pranayama and mediation to explore through the body, mind and spirit our true nature.

She says "I endeavour to bring a balance of learning and lightness to my classes, offering all students an equal amount of space and attention so they can discover the freedom and discipline that a well-balanced and joyful practice brings."

“I believe I offer a down to earth, passionate approach with a touch of humour to every class.”

We welcome Claire Trundell, from Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, back to teach with us from September 24th - 30th.

Claire first discovered yoga in her early twenties and has experienced many different styles including Scaravelli, British Wheel, Ashtanga and Iyengar. In her early practise she was drawn to Iyengar yoga for alignment and discovering depth in the postures. Later she explored the freedom and possibility of Vinyasa yoga, sequencing poses together using the breath.

Claire was in her mid-thirties when she was inspired to teach, wanting to share with others her love of yoga and the peacefulness that it can bring to the heart and mind. Her teaching combines her love of all these styles offering a revitalising yet restorative practise. She trained with the acclaimed Anne-Marie Newland and has furthered her training with inspirational teachers such as Jeff Phoenix, Kino McGregor, Graham Burns, Mark Freeth and the author of the Bandha yoga books, Ray Long.

She has taught in the UK and Australia with all levels of ability from beginners to advanced, teaching private students, groups, corporate classes and frequently running workshops.

Claire says "I have a deep respect and passion for various styles of yoga and bring this into my practice and teaching. I have practised Scaravelli, Iyengar and Vinyasa yoga which enables me to have a versatile teaching style, adapting the pace of my classes to the needs and ability of the students."

“I take each experience or encounter as a gift, a chance that is given to me so that I can grow and bring more light to this body, to this soul, to the world. Teaching is part of my service.”

Daniele Piserchia, from Italy, returns to teach throughout October this year.

Daniele has been a daily practitioner and teacher of Daoist yoga know as Sundao for three years. His background includes intensive training at the prestigious mountain Buddhist monastery called Magoksa in Gong Ju, South Korea.

Daniele has also studied many holistic spiritual methodologies and various approaches to meditation and channelling and brings his own unique wealth of knowledge and experience to his classes and lectures.

Daniele’s in depth understanding of Daoist Yoga along with his creative talent and personable charm makes his classes a very healing and rejuvenating experience.

Daniele has a passion for the Yoga science and has regularly attended yoga and meditation classes at Sunflower Retreats in Casperia as he also has also worked, in the past, as General PR and Retreat Manager at the centre.

Daniele is an articulate and knowledgeable teacher whose authenticity makes him accessible to students.

Lucy Bremner, co-founder of Sunflower Retreats, from London, has been a holistic practitioner in the UK and worldwide since 1988. She specialises in a wide range of body work, therapies and energy and spiritual balancing treatments such as Chakra Balancing and Reiki.

Lucy was drawn to the practice of Hatha Yoga and the yoga philosophy while studying holistic therapies professionally in London in 1989. In the late 80's and early 90's, then in her twenties, she travelled independently in Nepal, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Sudan and the USA, where she broadened her studies of yoga, Eastern philosophy and the healing arts, including the American Indian tradition and philosophy.

Lucy is a qualified Holistic Therapist and international yoga teacher, accredited with a distinction in her final examinations with Friends of Yoga - a society and examination body for yoga in the UK and India which is recognised by Yoga Alliance as an international yoga school. Over the last twenty years she helped hundreds of people with healing therapies and with yoga instruction, either through her yoga classes and treatments, or through all she has coordinated in the yoga and healing section at Sunflower Retreats' centre in Casperia. Her interests also include Shamanism, Astrology, art and the study of the sacred and divine feminine.

Lucy offers one-to-one healing yoga sessions for those looking for a transformational healing experience of yoga. Her yoga classes also include oracle card readings to help you find your life path and help with any questions you may have. Private classes are available most weeks within the season. To book in advance of your retreat, please email: mail@sunflowerretreats.com

Lucy's yoga classes are holistic and grounding, fusing the elements of Ying and Yang, yoga asanas and practices to bring balance (union) to the body, mind, emotions and spirit. She loves to share and communicate the ancient knowledge of Western and Eastern traditions through the healing power of yoga and meditation, both in her classes and her treatments. She is a gentle teacher, encouraging and supportive in her teaching and holistic therapy work.

A mother of two children born by natural childbirth methods, she also teaches pregnancy yoga and preparation for natural birth.

Lucy will lead yoga sessions at Sunflower Retreats on weeks when there are no guest teachers, however she and her husband Alan may not always be at the Retreat Centre during your week. (Don't worry, our staff are fabulous too!). Lucy also teaches the 2 year part-time Yoga Teacher Training courses at Sunflower Retreats.